Strand-catching device



April 14, 1953 Flled June 9 1949 April 14, 1953 H. J. MCDERMOTTSTRAND-CATCHING DEVICE 4 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed June S, 1949 INVENTOR.`HENRY J MCDE/PMO TT ATTURNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES ENTOFFICE American Viscose Corporation,

Wilmington,

Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June 9,1949,"`seria1`No.e,1ii3

(Cl. 28a-715) v2.2 Claims. l

This invention relates to an apparatus for catching and collecting arunning strand and particularly to a portable device which may v"be usedto lace strand-handling machinery. The term strand includes vall typesof continuous lamentary or fibrous bundles of natural ber and/ orsynthetically prepared filamentary material such as yarn, cord, thread,tow, and monolament.

In the manufacturing of textile strands, the usual rates of passingrunning strands over processing equipment has until present times beensuch that a skilled operator could manually lace a strand materialthrough the various machines needed to carry out desired processingsteps. For example, in the spinning of rayon at the usual linear rates4of less than 100 meters per minute, a strand of lamentary material isreadily led by hand around guides, reels, godets, etc. However, it isthe desire of the industry to process rayon yarn by continuous methodsat ever increasing rates of travel. When the strand moves at rates of120 meters or more per minute, the strand can no longer be laced byhand, and mechanical methods must be resorted to. 'Great diculty isencountered particularly in lacing units of machinery operating at theseincreased processing speeds, when the units are spaced at some distancefrom each other such as on ldiierA ent iioors.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable device forcollecting a running yarn moving at any possible processing speed.Another object is to provide an implement for severing a continuousstrand moving rapidly with respect to the implement, and for catching-the end of the portion of the strand advancing toward or past theimplement, and collecting the strand as it advances. It is a furtherobject 'to provide apparatus which will facilitate the lac'- ing ofstrand-handling machinery through which a running strand passes at rateswhich render manual threading of the machine impossible. Other objects,features and ladvantages of the invention will become `apparent from thefollowing description of the invention and the drawing relating theretoin which Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention withits strand-receptacle removed;

Fig. 2 is a section View valong line II-II of Fig. 1 showing the devicein 'thread-receiving relationship with a reel surface;

Fig. 3 is a section View vof a device similar 'to that illustrated inFig. 2 libut modified in several minor respects;

iria-4 ris anunscctionedsid View of the :closure shown in section "inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 isa `side vievv'of a'modied embodiment of vthe invention;

Figo-is an 'end view of the apparatusof Fig. f5 illustrating in vgreaterdetail a closure therefor; and

41iig. '7 a Asectional View taken along line VII- VII of Fig. 5. l

Briefly, the invention 'comprises method and a portable apparatus forsevering a running strand supported by Ya surface, such as that 'ofathread-advancing reel, andcollecting or receiving the running Vstrandlwhile applying it to another portion vof `the path through which it isintended that Athe strand shall pass. severing of the strand is effected-by a hard tubular tip which is connect-'ed by a short resilientiiexible duct with a -device for forcibly withdrawing the strand andcontinuously passing it 4to a receptacle. 'The dev-ice applies suctionto the tip to effect the capture of van end of the strand and passage ofthe strand through a portion 'of the passageway of the device. Air orother gas under pressure 'is introduced into the passage'- wa'y 4in adirectioncoinciding with "the movement of the vstr-and lto 'urge thestrand through the device 'with 'greater vforce than is obtainable byvacuum means.

Figs. y1 and 2 illustrate lby side 'and section views, respectively, oneembodiment of the invention in which a housing is interiorly formed to apredetermined contour, which in conjunction with the exteriorcontour of'a member 6, 'forms a chamber l. The parts v5 and -6 are preferably,though not necessarily, annular -so as lto obtain effective'circula-tion and lr'iistribution of vair or other @gas introduced underconsiderable pressure into the chamber 1. Air may enter the chamberthrough a tube jSi in threaded relationship with an opening through lthewall of the housing 5. The opening |50 may be offset with respect to thefaxis of 4the passageway i2, as shown in Fig. l to impart `to the air agenerally rotary as wellfas an axial component of motion whileit'passesthrough the 'chamber I and enters the passageway l2. The air passing athigh velooity through the small annular clearance at i4 tends to producea vacuum Vat the orifice I5 at the end of the 4passageway Il. Reductionof the air pressure below atmospheric at this point of course, promptlyproduces an inrushing of *air 'at the tip I8 and through the passage 'iin contiguous duct relationship with the tip. The velocity 'of vthe airis' sufficient to p'll a loose strand end into the tip i3 andcontinuously advance the strand through the passage.

The movement of the strand through the passages l2 and il of the deviceis the result of its Contact with the air passing through the passages.The degree of pull upon the strand is dependent upon the velocity of theair with relation to speed of the strand. It is found that vacuum meansproduces sufficient pull to capture a loose end thereof and continuouslypass a strand which is being continuously discharged from astrand-handling device directly to the device if the influence of thesuction on the strand is not opposed by appreciable frictional forcesacting on the strand. However, to obtain sufficient draft on the strandto pull it around elements which frictionally impede the movement of thestrand such as guides and godets, it is necessary to use other meansthan suction. In the apparatus of the invention the path along whichsuction is applied is preferably short so that a loose end of the strandcaptured by the device may be brought quickly into a region along itspath in which the air velocity is much greater than can be produced byvacuum means. The portion of the path along which the air is forced bypressure may be extended to any length which does not render the deviceunduly cumbersome but which provides sufficient contact of the air withthe strand to keep the strand taut while lacing it through processingequipment. Air supplied under pressure to the device therefore providesthe suction necessary for capturing the strand and, moreover, the gascurrent needed to secure adequate movement of the strand when the strandis subjected to frictional restraint.

On account of the necessity for producing a strand end which may becaptured and led from a rotating reel surface, it is necessary to cut orbreak the strand while it is wound about the reel surface. A light blowby a sharp or abrasiveedged object comprising a non-resilient materialsuch as metal, plastics, etc. against the reel will ordinarily sever thestrand and produce a loose end. However, it is also necessary to avoidinjuring the surfaces of the reel elements. For example, if suchelements are constructed of glass, or coated with porcelain or othervitreous material to withstand corrosion, their surfaces are readilychipped or otherwise injured by an object of appreciable hardness andweight brought Vinto engagement with the rapidly rotating reel.Moreover, damage may result to the object.

An essential feature of the invention, therefore, is the inclusion of aresilient portion in the duct means used as a member to engage and tosever a running strand in the manner hereinbefore described, to catch anend thereof, and to subsequently withdraw and collect the strand.Accordingly, the tip l, which may be a short tubular element ofsufficient hardness to cut or otherwise sever the strand,ris connectedwith the tubular portion 2i? of the member 5 by a flexible resilientconduit 22 constituted of a material of rubber-like elasticity such asrubber itself. The resilient element 22 has the important function ofabsorbing shock resulting from the impact occuring when the tip i8 isbrought into contact with the reel surface.

A further advantage raccruing from the use of the eXible tube is theoscillation of the tip i8 produced when the Vtip is brought into contactwith the uneven surface of a thread-advancing surface during rotation.When the apparatus of the invention is used in connection, for example,V

with a thread-advancing reel of the longitudinal bar construction thetip i8 comes into contact primarily with the edges of bars 32 such asshown in cross section in Fig. 2. As the tip is held in engagement withthe reel it chatters or vibrates as it undergoes a series of collisionsor impacts with the edges or side surfaces of the bars. The eifect isaccentuated considerably if the device 4 engages the reel surface at aposition wherein the one set of bars is raised relative to thealternately spaced set. The severing is thus accomplished primarily byimpact and thus obviates the use of a sharp-edged tip it needed forcutting the strand and the necessity for maintaining the sharp tips.Moreover, the use of a dull-edged tip permits the use of extremely hardmaterials such as steel-tungsten alloys without excessive injury to thesurfaces of the bars or other thread-supporting elements of a reel.

The weight of the body of the device Il and the receiver 2S securedthereto produces sucient inertia to cause appreciable injury to thesurfaces of reel parts if the inertia is not absorbed by resilientmeans. The resilient tube 22, however, absorbs any shock by permittinginstantaneous movement of the tip i8 as it is brought into contact withthe surface of the reel. By this expedient, severe jolting ordislodgement of the device It from the hands of an operator is avoidedwhich might result ir" the device was equipped with a rigid extensionfor engagingthe normally uneven surface of a thread-advancing reel.

The open end of a bag 26 which receives the strand or other materialdrawn into the device is secured about an annular surface 3| of thedevice by a clamp 29. An annular ridge 2B or shoulder is provided toeffet more positive attachment; of the bag 25. Since some of the liquidswhich accompany the strand into the device l are of such a nature as tobe irritating to human skin and the nasal, oral and respiratory passagesof the human body with which they might come in contact, and arecorrosive to plant fixtures and machinery if discharged into the plantatmosphere, a collecting means for the liquid-s is highly desirable. Thebag 26 comprises preferably, a tightly woven fabric or other similarlyapertured material which is permeable to gas but substantiallyimpermeable to liquid. The bag should be large enough to providesufficient area for the air used to operate the device to escape throughthe Walls of the bag while retaining the liquid which may be carried bythe strand drawn into the device and discharged into the bag. Y When thestrand-processing equipment carried by the device includes reels whichhandle dry or partly dried yarn such as drying reels, the liquidreceived into the bag Z is absorbed to some extent by dry yarnaccumulated in the bag. The dry strand collected in the bag acts as anabsorbent for the excess liquid which may be received from wet rolls.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified device 35 including a modied receptacle 37for receiving yarn and liquid. In general construction, the device 35resembles the device d of Fig. 2. The outer end of the strand-catchingtube 39 is formed on a bias with respect to the axis of the tube toprovide a projecting point or edge 4l to implement severing of thestrand supported on a reel when the tube is brought into contacttherewith. The

portion i3 is secured to the portion M in threaded relationship attwhereas, in the device of Fig. 2, parts 5 and E; are fastened togetherrby the plurality of small bolts I9. Theshape or conaccesar tour of therchamber 48. is different: than that. of

the chamber 1 ofthe device 4 to illustrate thaty the. proportions4thereof are not critical: to. the invention.

A rigid container 31l is attached to the device.

35 by securing the collar 50 in any desired man ner to the surface. 51|of the housing 4.4. Thev con-- tainer 31 may be formed of any suitablematerial such as sheet metal, a molded structure comprising athermoplastic or thermosetting syn.-` thetic resin which may or may notbe reinforced with a. fibrous material, or a metal protected fromcorrosion by an interiorly applied rubber or resinous coating. Thecontainer 31 is provided with a lter 52 of any suitable fibrousmaterial. The lter 52 may takel any form such as that shown whereinbrous or absorbent material or other material which accomplishes.separation of liquid from the air or othergas passing through thefilter, is supported within an independent cell or casing. 5.3- which isreadily removable and irisertable with respect to the con-v tainer 31.The filter 52I may be positioned as shown by a circumferential groove 55formed in the Wall of the container 31 and a spring 56 secured to a cap58 for the container to urge the lter 52 against the. groove when thecap 58 is in place.

The cap 58 may be secured to the container 31 by such means as thebayonet joint shown of which a small protruding member 60 provided inthe outer surface of the container Wall projects into. a groove 59pressed or otherwise formed along the interiorV surface of the cap rim51. The cap may be readily removed or attached to the container bybringing the protrusion into proper cooperation with the groove and,turning the cap through an angle correspondingto the arc formed by thegroove with respect to the diameter of the cap rim 51. The cap 58 isprovided with the apertures 62 to permit the escape of the air or othergas which traverses the interior of the container 31. The strand whichenters the container is collected in the chamber 64. After anappreciable length of strand is collected in. the chamber, the stranditself acts as ank absorbent or collecting mediumA for liquid whichunder some conditions may be drawn into the container. However, anyliquid which escapes the chamber 64 is collected by the filter 5'2.

Fig. 5 illustrates in side View a modication of the inventionparticularly adapted for service where the thread-engaging device isused tov transfer thread through narrow passages such as between membersof a single machine or between machines separated by a wall, floor, oroeilv ing which may be apertured to permit passage of thethread-engaging device. It is desired to. keep such apertures to aminimum size and to have the outer surfaces ofy the thread-catchingdevice smoothly contoured so that there are as few laterally projectingparts as possible to catch on equipment, the edges of the aperturespro-y vided for its transfer, etc. The device illustrated in Figs. 5, 6and '1 is provided for safer usage around production equipment. Theapparatusv shown in Fig. 5v comprises an injector portion 10 and astrand-receptacle portion 1| fastened thereto by screw-head studs 13.For simplicity of construction, the longitudinal walls ofthe receptacleportion are preferablyV annular.` They may be formed from any metallicor plastic.- ma-v terial of suicient rigidity. Preferably, the Wallsareformed from a transparent material so that an operator may readilyknow.when toy empty 6E the. receptacle portion. 0f strand collected therein.The injector portion; 10 comprises-al1.` Outer generally annular member15. and an. annulary wall. The. tubev 83 has a. threaded end 83a' whichts within an approriiriatelyA threaded aperture contiguous with theduct; 82 of:` the member 15.` They tube 83 is` held in place.v also by asleeveclamp. 85 and the. stud 8,6. The. sleeve clamp 85 is integral.with the; hinge plate. 88 fastenedv tothek end wall. of; the receptacle.1|. by screws. 89. A closure 90 is secured to the plate 88 in hingedrelationship. A trigger or finger-grip 9| is attached to. the closure 90to facilitate the openingv of the receptacle for the. unloading ofstrand.

A spring 93 urges the. closure into. the closed position as shown. and.exerts, suicient. force tohold the closure in a. closed position inopposition to any pressure abovey atmospheric producedV in thereceptacle by operation of the injector 10. Additional holes similar tothe apertures |02 may be provided through the closure. 0.1. through thecylindrical wall 95, if desired.

An apertured baffle 94 separates the interior of the receptaclell. into`two compartments indicated.

inFig. 5. The larger one 95 is used for-collecting. strand within thedevice pulled thereinto by the operation of the injector portion 10..The smaller compartment 96 provides space through which the tube 83 mayextendwithoutcoming into con-y tact with the strand, thus avoiding thetangling or wrapping of strand which might result in difficulty inunloading the receptacle.` The bale 94 is secured within the receptacleby engagement of its ends with grooves 91 and 98 provided inthe oppositeend walls of the receptacle. A curved portion 99- of thev baillecausesvit to function asa spring wheny slipped into. position.The-balile may be perforated as showni along substantially itsv entirelength and the greater part of. itsl width by the apertures. |0| throughwhich, as well as through apertures |02 extending'throughthe an.- nularwall of thereceptacleair may escape read-- ily from the receptacle. in alateral direction. In order to collect any liquidmaterial which may becarriedv into the receptacle during use of the apparatus, mineral wool,glass ber,x or any other material which will lter or collect liquiddroplets from the air passing out. ofthe receptacle may be packed intothe smaller compartment 06, of the receptaclein the space surroundingYthe tube 83.

As described heretofore. in connection with similar parts of other`modified embodiments of the invention, the injectorportion 10 is.provided with a tubular element |04 to, give the requiredresiliently-exibleI support. to: a. threadfengaging; tip |05 illustratedas. receiving the` strandV |01 from. reel bars |08 in` an` operative.manner.. A tubular guard |06. is. supported'. in. threaded relationshipon an exterior annular shoulder of the member 15;. The guard L06protects. the soft, flexible. tube |04 from injury' which. occursA when4the portion. of the tube extending over the edge L09 of the. tubularextension L03; cames into con..- tact with/.mevingreelparti elim.

Since it'may be desired to pass a device through'` an aperture of afloor for ceiling to another matached so that the apparatus may bemanually pulled to another point such as a point on the.

surface of a revolving thread-advancing reel designated as a transferpoint.

Air or other gas may be suppliedunder pressure from a reservoir (notshown) to the apparatus just described orany of the 'previouslydescribed embodiments of the invention, preferably through a exible hoseor tubing (not shown) To provide the strand-catching apparatuswith theportability necessary to service a plurality of spaced machines or totransfer the running strand from machine to machine, the hose necessaryto reach the machines may be stored, for example, on a springoperatedreel, or other hose storing and retracting means. l

The apparatusl of the invention herein described in various embodimentsis a highly desirable and eicient means for capturing and collecting avrunning strand from all types of equipment. It may be used 4forhandling strand traveling at any vconceivableprocessing-speed. It hasgreat versatility in being adapted to the requirements of any particularuse since Yit is readily portable and may be easily regulated by' merelyadjusting the pressure ofthe air or other` gas suppied to it. Minorchanges in design 'will be apparent to those skilled in the art of jetconstruction to adapt the apparatus to obtain desirable performancecharacteristics under varying conditions such as variations in denier,weight, and linear speed of the yarn being handled.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes and variations may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

' l. A method of catching and collecting a running strand comprisingsupporting the strand upon a surface of greater hardness than thematerial of the strand, directing a second surface of greaterV hardnessthan the material of the strand against the supporting surface to severthe strand by impact while simultaneously applying suction along a pathintegrally associated with the second surface to the region of impact tocapture a loose strand-end produced by the impact, and continuouslyremoving the strand through a region adjacent the second surface andalong a path which includes as a portion-the path through which thesuction is applied.

2. A method of catching and collecting a running strandcomprisingsupporting the strand upon a surface of greater hardness than thematerial of the strand, directing a second surface of greater hardnessthan the material of the strand against the supporting surface to severthe strand by impact while simultaneously applying suction along a pathfixed with respect to the second surface to the region of impact tocapture a loose strand-end produced by the impact, continuously removingthe strand along a path which includes as a portion the path throughwhich the suction is applied, and directing a high velocity gaseousstream into the path to produce the suction and to produce a highgaseous velocity along the remaining-portion of the path in a directionaway from the region of impact.

8 l. 3., The method of claim2 wherein the strand is'supported on anuneven surface.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the strand is supported on athread-advancing reel of the type wherein bars arranged longitudinallywith respect to the reel axis may move relative to adjacent barsto'produce strand-advancing.

5. A method of catching and collecting a running strand comprisingsupporting the strand Vupon a surface of greater hardness than the,

material of the strand, directing a second surface of greater hardnessthan the material of the strand against the supporting surface to severthe strand while simultaneously applying suction along a path integrallyassociated wth the second surface to the region of engagement ofthesurfaces to capture an end of the severed strand, continuously removingthe strand through a region adjacent the second surface along a secondpath which includes the path through which the suction is applied, andforcing a gaseous stream at high velocity into the second path in adirection extendingv away from the second surface at an angle obliquewith respect to the general direction of the path.

6. A method of catching and collecting a running strand, comprisingsupporting the strand upon a surface moving with the strand, of greaterhardness than the material of the strand, directing a second surface ofgreater hardness than the material of the strand against the supportingsurface to sever the strand while simultaneously applying suction alonga path integrally associated with the second surfaceto the region ofengagement of theV surfaces to capture-an end of the severed strand,continuously removing the strand through a region adjacent the secondsurface alonga second path which includes as a portion the path throughwhich the suction is applied, forcing` a gaseous stream at high velocityinto the second path in a direction extending away fromv the secondsurface at an angle of less than degrees with respect to the directionof the path, and discharging the gaseous stream and the strand into astrand-(collecting region, and ltering liquid from the gas which passesthrough and out of the strand-collecting region.

7. Apparatus in the form of a portable unit for severing a runningstrand supported by aV surface having a hardness greater than thematerial of the strand, and catching the severed end thereof, comprisinga small rigid tubular' element having a hardness greater than thematerial, a suction device having a passage, and a short iieXibleresilient tubular'member connected with the rigid member and having itsbore in communication with the passage of the suction device.

8. lApparatus for severing a running strand supported by a surfacehaving a hardness greater than the material of the strand, for catchingthe advancing severed end thereof, and for continuously collecting thestrand, comprising a small rigid tubular strand-receiving elementhavinga hardness greater than the material of the strand, a deviceforlongitudinally advancin'g thestrand connected'with a reserve supplyof gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, said device having apassageway for the strand extending therethrough and provided with ductmeans within the device for conducting the gas at elevated pressure intothe passageway, said duct means opening into the passageway in adirection extending; away. from ,the strand-re- Vama-4,491

ceiving end thereof, and a flexible resilient tubu- -lar memberconnecting the element and the strand-receiving end of the passageway.

9. Apparatus for severing a running strand supported by a surface havinga hardness greater than the material of the strand, for catching theadvancing severed end thereof, and for continuously collecting thestrand, comprising a small rigid tubular strand-receiving element havinga hardness greater than the material of the strand, a device forlongitudinally advancing the strand connected with a reserve supply ofgas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, said device having apassageway for the Strand extending therethrough and provided with ductmeans within the device for conducting the gas at elevated pressure intothe passageway, said duct means opening into the passageway in adirection extending away vfrom the strand-receiving end thereof, aflexible resilient tubular member connecting the element and theStrandreceiving end of the passageway, and a strandreceiving receptaclehaving gas permeable walls in communication with the strand-dischargingend of the passageway for collecting the strand.

10. Apparatus for severing a running strand supported on an unevensurface having a hardness greater than the material of the strand, forcatching the advancing end of the severed strand, and for continuouslycollecting the strand, comprising a small rigid tubular element having ahardness greater than the material of the strand, a suction devicehaving a strand receiving port and a strand discharging port, a exibleresilient tubular member connecting the element to the strand receivingport of the suction device, a strand-collecting receptacle connectedwith the strand discharging port and comprising rigid walls defining astrand-collecting space, an apertured wall portion, and a filter forcollecting liquid disposed between the space and the apertured wallportion.

11. Apparatus for severing a running strand supported by a surfacehaving a hardness greater than the material of the strand, for catchingthe advancing end of the severed strand, and for continuously receivingthe strand comprising a body portion, a central passage through the bodyportion having a strand-receiving end and a strand-discharging end, anannular chamber in the body portion disposed concentrically with respectto a central passageway and separated therefrom by an annular wall, saidannular chamber having a small annular end portion terminating in acircumferential region of the central passageway at an angle less than90 degrees to the axis of the passageway, duct means extending throughan outer wall of the body connecting the chamber to exteriorly disposedmeans for supplying a gas under pressure, a container having gaspermeable walls in communication with the strand-discharging end of thecentral passageway, lter means positioned within the container forseparating gaseous and liquid materials, and conduit means contiguouswith the strand-receiving end of the passageway comprising a rigidportion having a hardness greater than the material of the strand, and aresilient portion connecting the rigid portion and the strand-receivingend of the passageway.

12. Apparatus for severing a running strand supported by a surfacehaving a hardness greater than the material of the strand, for catchingthe advancing end of the severed strand, and for continuously receivingthe strand comprising `a body portion, a central passage through thebody portion having a strand-receiving end and a strand-discharging end,an annular chamber in the body portion disposed concentrically withrespect to a central passageway and sepa-rated therefrom by an annularwall, said annular chamber having a small annular end portionterminating in a circumferential region of the lcentral passageway at anangle less than vdegrees to the axis of the passageway, duct meansextending through an outer wall of the body connecting the chamber toexteriorly disposed means for supplying a gas under pressure, acontainer having a gas-permeable wall in communication with thestrand-discharge end of the central passageway, and conduit meanscontiguous with the strand-receiving end of the passageway comprising arigid portion having a hardness greater than the material of the strandand a resilient portion connecting the rigid portion and thestrandreceiving end of the passageway.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the container comprises a bag oftightly woven textile material.

14. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the container comprises a rigidmaterial, said container enclosing a strand-collecting space and a lterdisposed between the space and an outlet in a wall of the containerthrough which gas may pass into the outer atmosphere.

15. Apparatus as in claim 12 in which the container comprises rigidwalls, a strand-collecting space, a removable closure having anapertured wall, an-d a removable liquid-collecting filter disposedwithin the container between the space and the apertured wall of theclosure.

16. Apparatus as in claim 12, said container having rigid walls, theduct means having a p0rtion extending longitudinally through thecontainer adjacent a wall thereof for connecting the exteriorly disposedgas supply means with the portion of the duct means which extendsthrough the wall of the body, a closure in the end of the containeropposite the strand-discharge portion of the central passageway of thebody, and, spring means for urging the closure into the closed position.Y

17. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the container has walls comprisinga transparent material.

18. Apparatus as in claim 12 in which an annular guard for the resilientportion of the conduit extends from the body to enclose in radiallyspaced relationship at least the part of the resilient portionoverlapping any portion of the body.

19. Apparatus as in claim 12, said container having rigid walls, theduct means having a portion extending longitudinally through thecontainer adjacent a wall thereof for connecting the exteriorly disposedgas supply means with the portion of the duct means which exten-dsthrough the wall of the body, and apertures through the portion of thecontainer wall adjacent the duct means for permitting the escape of gas.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the portion of the duct extendingthrough the container is separated from a strand-collecting region ofthe container by baffle means to assure and facilitate the dischargingof a mass of strand from the container.

21. A method of catching and collecting a running strand comprisingsupporting the strand upon a moving surface having a hardness greaterthan that of the material comprising the strand, directing a secondsurface of greater hardness than the material of the strand against thesupporting surface and the strand to sever the strand by impact,capturing the loose end of the portion of the strand advancing towardthe second surface at the point of impact and continuously transferringsaid strand portion by suction along a controlled path extending-fromthe second surface, and moving the path and the second surface to atransfer point for the yarn.

22. A method of catching and collecting a runing strand comprisingsupporting the strand upon a moving surface having a hardness greaterthan that of the material comprising the strand, directing a secondsurface of greater hardness than the material of the strand against thesupporting surface and the strand to sever the strand by impact, suckingthe loose end of the portion of the strand advancing into the regionWhere sev- 12 erance thereof occurred toward the second surface andthereafter continuously sucking said strand portion along a controlledpath extending from the second surface, and moving said path to bringthe running strand into engagement with a running receiving surface.

HENRY J. MCDERMOTT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Y Date 2,173,847 Knebusch et al Sept. 26, 1939 2,277,753 FurnessMar. 31, 1942 2,356,378 Capolupo Aug. 22, 1944 2,412,403 Jackson et alDec. 10, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 322,417 Great'BritainDec. 12, 1929 359,627 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1931

